39 Amazing Destinations – Our Favorites from 15 Years of Traveling

People often ask us what’s our favorite destination or what is the most beautiful place we have been to. So to celebrate our blog’s one year anniversary, we decided to share the very best, most magical destinations from the 15 years of travels. 39 amazing places from all over the world made this list of our absolute favorites. Find out!

In no particular order, here is our selection of the most beautiful destinations from all over the world.

1. Milford Sound, New Zealand

Milford Sound fjord on the Southern Island of New Zealand will take your breath away. New Zealand is pretty much on top of our list of the most beautiful nature destinations worldwide, and Milford Sound is just one of the many spectacular natural landmarks we visited in New Zealand.

2. Mopion Island, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

One of the most unbelievable places we have ever been to – tiny Mopion island in the Caribbean. Just us, the umbrella and the sea. Oh, and the picnic basket with a bottle of champagne, and the snorkelling gear for hours of underwater fun. Extraordinary experience!

3. Bruges, Belgium

If you visit just one town in Belgium, make it Bruges. It’s one of Europe’s most beautiful fairytale towns and one of our absolute favorites. And it has nothing to do with the fact that we live in Belgium!

5. Kata Tjuta, Australia’s Red Centre

Australia’s Red Centre is so much more than just Uluru (Ayer’s Rock). In fact, we were just as impressed with the Kata Tjuta area! If you visit just one region in Australia, make it the Red Centre, the true heart of this incredible continent. Read more about our road trip to the Red Centre, Kata Tjuta and the West MacDonnell Ranges and get to know more about these hidden gems of Outback Australia!

6. Château de Chambord, Loire Valley, France

Château de Chambord is the largest castle in the Loire Valley. Don’t limit your visit to just this one castle, the region of Loire with hundreds of castles is worth exploring deeper!

8. Flores Island, The Azores, Portugal

If you are looking for truly untouched nature, I cannot recommend the Azores highly enough. One of our favourites was the secluded Flores Island. At the time of our visit it had less than 10 rental cars and two hotels.

9. Santorini, Greece

Santorini is like no other place in the world! You’ll instantly recognise its typical whitewashed buildings against the rugged volcanic landscape. It truly is as beautiful as in the pictures, just be aware that you will not be enjoying the romantic sunsets alone – over two million tourists visit Santorini every year.

10. Lake Moraine, Canada

Lake Moraine in Banff National Park in Canada is probably one of the most scenic mountain lakes in the world. Photos don’t even do justice to the spectacular scenery surrounding the lake.

11. Arches National Park, Utah, USA

Utah is home to some of the world’s most magical natural landmarks. Monument Valley, Bryce NP, Zion NP, Canyonlands NP… I could fill half of this list of amazing travel destinations without ever leaving the state of Utah, but if I have to choose just one, it would be the Arches National Park. And the absolute must-do in the park is the Delicate Arch Trail!

12. Venice, Italy

With its medieval palazzos, richly decorated gondolas, hundreds of bridges, canals, and unforgettable romantic atmosphere, Venice is definitely a bucket list destination. Make sure you read this post if planning a trip to Venice with young kids.

13. Li River, China

We were lucky to visit China before the big economic growth changed the country and its people for good. We didn’t know what to expect and were amazed to discover such a rich culture and incredibly beautiful nature.

14. Prague, Czech Republic

Without a doubt one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, Prague will surprise and enchant you. It’s a city which does not yield to Paris, Rome or London.

15. La Digue, the Seychelles

The Seychelles are so much more than white sand beaches and luxury resorts. La Digue island (pictured here) is just one of the many incredibly diverse Seychelles islands that will take your breath away.

16. Deadvlei, Namibia

It’s difficult to find the right words to describe Deadvlei in Namibia. It’s a magical destination, a surreal place that has no equals anywhere else on Earth. Go before sunrise if you want to have the whole place to yourself, like we did. For more reasons to visit Namibia, read this: 13 Incredible Places Not To Be Missed in Namibia.

17. Paris, France

No list of best destinations in the world would be complete without mentioning Paris. It’s a city we used to visit a lot, but since we have kids, we only got there once: 1 day in Paris with kids.

18. Hermanus, South Africa

Hermanus in South Africa is my husband’s favorite place from all our trips. What is there not to love about this spectacular coastline where you can watch dolphins and whales from ashore! One of our best memories from South Africa is having picnic and watching dolphins from the spot in this picture.

19. Tulip Fields in the Netherlands

20. Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is one of the most impressive man-made structures we ever set a foot on. Do some research before you go and try to avoid the crowds.

21. Spirit Island, Maligne Lake in Jasper NP, Canada

There are moments when you see a place so special that you know immediately that it was worth the whole trip. Tiny Spirit Island in Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park is one of those places. Pictures don’t do it justice; the beauty of nature will take your breath away!

24. Cape Cross Seal Reserve, Namibia

The sight of more than 100,000! seals in Cape Cross seal reserve in Namibia is impressive to say the least. It’s an unforgettable experience to walk amongst these wild animals. They say the smell is something that stays with you forever, we were lucky to visit on a very windy day and so we missed this part of the experience. See our Namibia trip itinerary for more info.

25. Maroon Bells, Colorado, USA

Maroon Bells in Colorado are said to be the most photographed mountains in the United States. No matter how many pictures you had seen, you won’t be prepared for the stunning beauty of the place. Go early in the morning to beat the crowds and see the incredible reflections on the lake. Read more about our unforgettable day visiting Maroon Bells.

26. Trakai Castle, Lithuania

One of our favorite places to spend a day every time we visit Lithuania. The beautifully restored castle is worth a visit, but if you have the chance, make sure to also explore the lake and the whole area around it. To truly appreciate the beauty of this place, you would have to see it from above – the castle is built on an island that is surrounded by lakes and forests as far as the eye can see.

27. Great Ocean Road, Southern Australia

Great Ocean Road in Southern Australia is more than just the famous Twelve Apostles, for which more than 23 million of tourists travel to the area every year. Escape the crowds and take your time to explore the beautiful coastline beyond the most famous lookout points. There is so much you can see and do on The Great Ocean Road!

28. Terracotta Army in China

No matter how many pictures of Emperor Qin’s terracotta army you had seen, you cannot be prepared for how impressive it is in reality. Definitely a must-see if visiting China!

29. Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone NP, USA

The Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park is everything you would expect it to be. And yes, it is as colorful as in the pictures! Yellowstone is a magical place with beautiful landscapes, incredible variety of wildlife, spurting geysers and even hot rivers… Definitely a place you should see if visiting the United States. But Yellowstone is more than the Grand Prismatic Spring! Read more about our favourite things to see and do in Yellowstone.

31. Mont Saint-Michel Abbey, France

There is something about the Mont Saint Michel that is difficult to put in words. It has incredible views and such a unique atmosphere. Try to visit off season or avoid the crowds like we did – find out: Our day at Mont Saint Michel with kids.

33. Taj Mahal, India

We visited many beautiful places in India, but it was one of the few destinations that we are not eager to go back to again. Taj Mahal, however, is worth a trip to India all by itself! It’s a fascinating place that has to be experienced first hand. Definitely one for your bucket list!

34. Alsace region France

This picture is from the picturesque town of Colmar, just one of the many incredibly quaint towns in the Alsace region in Northern France. If you have time for just one town in the area, don’t miss Strasbourg.

35. Burj Khalifa, Dubai

I was a bit sceptical about visiting Dubai as it seemed to artificial. In a way, it is. But you just have to admire the vision of the people who turned a small village in the desert into the world metropole that Dubai is today. There is so much to see and do in Dubai, but Burj Khalifa – the tallest building in the world – is definitely not to be missed. Read also: Best Dubai activities and What to see and do in Dubai in 1, 2 or 3 days.

36. Yunnan Province, China

Pictured is the Jade Spring Park in Lijiang city in Yunnan province in China. Yunnan province was probably the most authentic region we visited in China. Whether you are looking for natural wonders, beautiful ancient towns or incredibly diverse cultural experience, Yunnan has it all. It’s nothing like Beijing, Shanghai or other big cities, it’s real rural China and definitely not to be missed.

37. Okaukuejo Waterhole in Etosha National Park, Namibia

Why does a waterhole make it to my top destinations list? Okaukuejo in Etosha National Parkis not just any waterhole; it’s like watching National Geographic channel live! Hundreds of animals come and go all day (and night) long. All you have to do is comfortably install yourself on one of the many benches and let the African wildlife come to you. It’s not the same as going on safari, of course, but it’s an incredible experience, one that is not to be missed in Namibia!

38. Bali, Indonesia

Bali is one of our favorite destinations in Asia. To me, it’s the best of Asia on a rather small surface, allowing you to get a taste of a very different culture without having to travel around too much. Maybe that’s why it became so popular with foreign tourists recently?

39. Panorama Route, South Africa

After extensive traveling of several years, we decided to take a break. We both had a feeling that we had seen so many beautiful places and it was difficult to get excited about new destinations at that time. And then after a while we booked a trip to South Africa. On the first evening in South Africa a couple of hippos walked into the garden of our hotel, just meters from the table where we were having dinner. The next day we were standing at this viewpoint on the Panorama Route and my husband said something I’ll never forget: ‘just when I though we’ve seen it all, South Africa has proven me wrong’. It was here, at this place, that we knew that we would continue to travel as much as we could, as often as we could, and as far as we could. Read also: Why in the world do you have to travel so far?!

Please don’t get upset if you don’t find your favorite destination on this list. First, we haven’t been everywhere and second, this list would contain not 39 but 1239 amazing destinations if we were to include every single inspiring place we visited over the years. Feel free to leave a comment and let us know what your favorites are. We are always looking for new ideas for our next trips!

I hope this post will inspire you to travel more and explore new places. If you enjoyed reading it, please share it with your traveling friends. Are you on Pinterest? Pin this image!

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Comments

You definitely have traveled to some amazing places over the years. It’s so weird that with all that traveling– many of which I’ve also seen or hope to see one day soon. I’m sure there are just as many places you’d like to see over the next 15 years of traveling.

Ha ha, fellow traveller I suppose. It’s indeed not easy (not to say impossible) to pick ‘the best’ destinations from so many trips. Nevertheless, these are all one by one places we love and would love to go back to, only the very best.

You have been to a lot of places and each of them vie with each other to occupy the pride of place. All of them are lovely places and would figure on any travelers list. Have been to some of them and some of our favourites include Paris, Rome and the Taj Mahal.

Wow – you have been to some absolutely beautiful places Jurga, I’ve barely scratched the surface of your travels. Rome is my favourite city and Costa Rica my favourite country. And, I absolutely love that picture of the tree in Namibia. Great post Jurga!

Wow, I’m really impressed with how many places you’ve visited! After a year of non-stop traveling, we’ve only seen such a small part of the world. It feels like we’ve seen a lot, but it actually isn’t. Still more than most people though. Anyway, it was an amazing experience and we will definitely keep traveling. One day we’ll be able to compile such an impressive list as yours. 😉

Thank you, Birthe. A year of non-stop traveling must have brought you to some amazing destinations too! I’m sure you have seen more in a year than 98% of people in their lifetime! It’s not about how many places you’ve been to or how much you saw, it’s about the experience itself and how it shapes you as a person. Traveling changes you for good. Enjoy it!

A very big congratulations on your 1year anniversary blogging that is a great achievement. You have been to some amazing places over the last 15 years and your pictures want me to add more to my bucket list.

Thanks, Greg. Yes, we have been to all of the places from this list, but then again, we didn’t do it in one year. 😉 The worst thing is, is that our list of places still to be visited is much longer than this… 😉

Thank you, Robert. The more we travel, the more I realise how little we have seen… 🙂 I guess traveling just does that to you – there is always another exciting destination and a hidden gem to be discovered, no matter how much you have seen already… Happy travels!

Welcome!

Hi, I’m Jurga. A traveller with a camera and a mom of three boys. On this blog I share our family's travel experiences all over the world, coupled with lots of practical information and useful tips. My pictures will inspire you to discover new destinations and my stories will prove that you can take your kids anywhere.Join us as we discover the world one beautiful adventure at a time!Read more about me, my family, and our trips all over the world...